In one of the recent YouTube videos on Jay Leno’s Garage, they spent the entire episode enjoying a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air that belongs to John Paul DeJoria, a reputable entrepreneur and humanitarian who co-founded Paul Mitchell hair products. The car itself is a work of genius in both modern engineering and classic design, having a supercharged LT4 engine with 750 horsepower, backed by a six-speed manual gearbox.

But apart from its very impressive specs, this Bel Air has a very interesting story that adds another layer of depth to its appeal. DeJoria explains that he found the car with his daughter, champion drag racer Alexis DeJoria. They decided to take it in, fix it up, and enter it into a local car rally. Unfortunately, damage occurred during the rally.

That is when his friend and business partner, Angus Mitchell, stepped in. Mitchell took the vehicle to his shop to repair it and then completely customized it for DeJoria. He’d then taken this car and upgraded it with an Art Morrison chassis, BAER four-wheel disc brakes, and a custom interior featuring a unique skeleton design, created specifically for JP. These upgrades for a vintage car seem cool, but what is the estimated cost of this classy gift? Well, DeJoria estimates it’s somewhere between $300,000 and $400,000.

While taking the car for a spin, Leno and DeJoria combined their passion for old cars. Leno has been known for years for owning hundreds of cars, so he said nothing but praise for the ’57 Bel Air’s classic styling and modern performance. “I love the fact that you haven’t modified the body,” Leno said, admiring the car’s original body.

He was also impressed by the car’s smooth handling and powerful engine, stating: “It’s one of the nicest restomods I’ve been in, really did a beautiful job.” The discussion turned to DeJoria’s life history, including his life in high school and his efforts to become who he was. He even explained that he recently took the Bel Air to his 60th high school reunion.

All during the episode, DeJoria’s interest in the car seemed real and his passion authentic. “It’s not a chore; it really is very nice to drive. It’s a joy,” he articulated as he went on to define this classic car. This 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air restomod displays both car collectors’ enthusiasm, deep friendship, generosity, and the attractive power of that classic styling of a bygone era. The premise of this episode showed viewers a little more about the vast world of enthusiasts interested in cars but focused more on the passion, community, and hard work that goes into restoring these automotive treasures. We get to know more about JP DeJoria and his 1957 Chevy Bel Air by riding along as two friends discuss their passion for cars.